The first round wraps up on Day 2 of the ATP Qatar Open in Doha. The former Week 1 stalwart has now been moved due to pandemic logistics but the field has not suffered. It will be an interesting week in Qatar and as always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. We also have four other matches in a separate article. Who do you think will win?
ATP Doha Day 2 Predictions
Jiri Vesely vs Arthur Rinderknech
Head-to-head: first meeting
Vesely recently dropped out of the Top 100 after failing to defend his Pune title. The 28-year-old did not have the best time at the Bangalore Challenger either, dropping sets to Antoine Bellier and Prajnesh Gunneswaran before retiring with stomach issues against Enzo Couacaud. Rinderknech looked strong in Australia, reaching his first final on the ATP Tour in Adelaide. The Frenchman was unfortunately taken out by a wrist injury that prevented him from taking the court against Daniel Evans in the second round at the Australian Open.
It has been a month since Rinderknech last played but he is the favorite for me. Vesely’s performances have not been impressive lately and if Rinderknech brings the level he started the year with, it should be enough.
Prediction: Rinderknech in 2
Marton Fucsovics vs Lloyd Harris
Head-to-head: Harris 2-1 Fucsovics
Fucsovics’s form has been middling the past few months. The Hungarian’s quarterfinal run in Rotterdam last week was only the second time he won back-to-back matches since last year’s Wimbledon. Harris is struggling even more, winless in 2022 and on a five-match losing streak. The losses this year have been particularly worrying for Harris, getting beaten by Soonwoo Kwon, Aleksandar Vukic, and Ilya Ivashka.
The South African does lead the head-to-head 2-1, winning their most recent meeting in Antwerp last year, though Fucsovics beat Harris here in Doha last year. He might make it close but I do not expect Harris to break out of his slump here.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 3
Lorenzo Musetti vs Elias Ymer
Head-to-head: first meeting
The 19-year-old Musetti had a strong week in Rotterdam, beating Mikael Ymer and Hubert Hurkacz to reach the quarterfinals. That was the first time the young Italian won back-to-back matches since the French Open. Ymer comes in as a lucky loser after a final qualifying round loss to Chris Eubanks. Before that, the Swede pulled off a great run in Pune, reaching the semifinals as a qualifier win with wins over Aslan Karatsev and Stefano Travaglia. Ymer only lost to eventual champion Joao Sousa after a three-hour battle.
This match has the potential to go long if Ymer brings his best but considering his loss to Eubanks, Musetti has to be the favorite.
Prediction: Musetti in 2
Main Photo from GEtty.
